Leinster Tou hot for rivals
LEINSTER secured their European Champions Cup Quarter-Final place with a 29-13 bonus-point win over Toulouse.
The defending champions were without a host of key men including Jonathan Sexton and Ron Kearney.
But tries from Jack Conan, Dave Kearney, Sean Cronin and Adam Byrne saw them home and into the last eight.
Newcastle’s hopes were ended by a 45-8 thrashing in Montpellier.
The French side made
10 changes but still scored seven tries.
Newcastle’s only points came from a Toby Flood penalty and a late Zach Kibirige try.
Jacob Stockdale got two tries as Ulster clinched a pulsating 26-22 win over Racing 92.
It means the Ireland winger has scored in every European round so far, with Ulster’s other try coming from Robert Baloucoune.
The victory puts Ulster just two points behind leaders Racing in Pool Four – the French side having come away with two bonus points – with just one more round of games to go.
Bath beat Wasps 18-16 at The Rec thanks to a
79th-minute penalty from Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland. IT’S NET GETTING BETTER: Murray has struggled with pain for years whole experience which is maybe something during my career that I’ve not done. It’s always been focused on tactics and winning and finding a way and that’s the most important thing. Whereas coming in here, it feels very different for me.” Murray announced his decision during a tearful press conference on Friday.
He added: “I know it will be difficult to stop. I love tennis. I love playing the game.
“Because I’ve been in pain for a long time it’s not as simple as, ‘My pain started at the French Open, I’ve never had hip pain before’.
“I’d been in pain for quite a long time but was managing it and was able to play so I was thinking, ‘If my hip gets better I’ll be able to go back to competing’.
“But it didn’t get to that point. Because of when I had the surgery and what I was told about the surgery, and the timings of when things can be beneficial, I thought I needed to wait it out a bit and see. Obviously it didn’t help enough.”
The Scot has started his own management company and could become a coach or be the future Davis Cup captain. But for now he has no plans.
Murray said: “I have no motivation to do anything else just now. It’s going to take time for me to deal with it and know what my next steps are going to be after tennis.” Meanwhile Harriet Dart (left) claimed it will be “pretty cool” to play Maria Sharapova in the first round.
The British No.4, 22, came through qualifying and was rewarded with a glamour meeting with the 2004 champion at the Rod Laver Arena. She said: “Sharapova has been my idol since I was very little.” British No.2 Cameron Norrie lost the final of the Auckland Open 6-4 6-2 to American Tennys Sandgren.